/!--The traditional lyrics are arranged in four verses:--/
I came from Alabama, Wid a banjo on my knee,
I'm gwyne to Louisiana, My true love for to see.
It rain'd all night the day I left, The weather it was dry,
The sun so hot I froze to death; Susanna, don't you cry.
Chorus:
Oh! Susanna, Oh don't you cry for me,
cos' I've come from Alabama, Wid my banjo on my knee
I jumped aboard the telegraph, And trabbled down the riber,
De lectric fluid magnified, And killed five hundred nigger.
De bullgine bust, de horse run off, I really thought I'd die;
I shut my eyes to hold my breath, Susanna don't you cry.
CHO: Oh Susanna &c.
I had a dream the odder night, When ebery thing was still
I thought I saw Susanna A Coming down de hill;
The buck-wheat cake was in her mouth, The tear was in her eye;
Says I, "I'm coing from de south, Susanna, don't you cry."
CHO: Oh Susanna &c.
I soon will be in New Orleans, And den I'll look all round,
And When I find Susanna, I will fall upon de ground.
And If I do not find her, Dis Darkie'l surely die,
And when I'm dead and buried, Susanna, don't you cry.
CHO: Oh Susanna &c.
/!--Because the second verse and colloquialisms were racist, modern verses have changed to be less offensive:--/
I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee,
I'm going to Louisiana, my true love for to see
It rained all night the day I left, the weather it was dry
The sun so hot I froze to death; Susanna, don't you cry.
Oh, Susanna, don't you cry for me
cos' I come from Alabama
With my banjo on my knee.
I had a dream the other night when everything was still,
I thought I saw Susanna coming up the hill,
A buck wheat cake was in her mouth, a tear was in her eye,
I said I'm coming from the south, Susanna don't you cry.
I soon will be in New Orleans and then I'll look around
And when I find my Susanna, I'll fall upon the ground
But if I do not find her, this man will surely die
And when I'm dead and buried, Susanna don't you cry.
/!--The nonsense verse that opens the song hints that the song is not intended to be taken too seriously. The coarse2 African-American dialect of the original lyrics reflects the minstrel show tradition that Foster worked in.--/